The Human Rights Commission has joined the city’s Public Safety Commission in recommending that City Council commit funds in the next budget to add staff for first responders dealing with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The rights commission unanimously approved a recommendation heavily based on a May report that outlines the need for $1.75 […]
Austin Police Department
the law enforcement entity for the City of Austin.
Posted inPolice
Austin police pension fund facing trouble
The Austin Police Department’s retirement system is in considerable trouble, with actuaries predicting that the fund will run out of money within 50 years unless the city and the officers who are members of the system reach an agreement to change current contribution levels, benefits and/or try a more novel approach. Like other retirement funds, […]
Posted inPublic Safety
The Provability Gap: Why sexual assault cases are so hard to prosecute in Austin
Austin had the highest number of rapes reported in large Texas cities in 2017. The rate of reported rapes that year was also nearly 40 percent higher than U.S. cities of similar size. The Travis County district attorney says law enforcement responded to more than 600 adult sexual assault allegations that year. Only one person […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Have some pride
Build that fence… The Austin Music Commission has asked the city to send a representative to its September meeting to update the group on work to address the recent rash of shootings and violence in the area around Red River and Seventh streets during evening hours when clubs and music venues in that district are […]
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission recommends increased funding for mental health first responder program
The Austin Police Department is working to revamp its tactics when handling calls related to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Fulfilling that goal starts with training officers so they are equipped to help in these tense situations. Public Safety Commissioner Chris Harris pointed out at the Aug. 5 meeting of the commission that even […]
Posted inAustin
Packed homelessness forum calls for more shelters, support: ‘We are dealing with human beings here’
As the city adjusts to new rules for panhandling, camping or sitting or lying in public, the Downtown Austin Alliance hosted a forum Tuesday to discuss the road ahead for dealing with homelessness and plans to expand emergency shelter access across the city. In the three weeks since the city’s revision of its homelessness ordinances […]
Posted inPolice
City audit says Austin police could be better about keeping track of body camera footage
The Austin Police Department is still working out the kinks in its body camera program, according to a new city audit. The report released today by the city auditor’s office looked at footage from 151 body cam videos from Aug. 1, 2018, to Jan. 31, 2019 – a small sampling of all the videos recorded […]
Posted inPolice
Austin police report shows a slight uptick in property crimes in 2018
A new report released Monday from the Austin Police Department shows crime overall increased in 2018, with property crimes up 9 percent. Violent crimes dropped slightly, however. The report also acknowledges controversy surrounding the way APD handles sexual assault cases, after a state audit found the department incorrectly cleared 30 rape cases in 2017. Overall, […]
Posted inCity Hall
After 13-year-old’s arrest, black advocates demand library policies that create safe spaces for all
Teacher Njera Keith was entering the Carver Branch of Austin Public Library with a 6-year-old student when they saw a police officer patting down 13-year-old LaTashia Milligam. The teenager was handcuffed and had no shoes on. Keith said her young student immediately began shaking. “She’s shocked that this little girl that we were just interacting […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Fire and police response times lagging due to low staffing
In an effort to serve citizens as quickly, efficiently and proficiently as possible, Austin public safety departments have response time goals. For the Fire Department, this means response times of eight minutes 90 percent of the time, while police should arrive at the scene within 6 minutes and 44 seconds for the highest-priority calls. However, […]
Posted inPublic Safety
APD investigates causes of traffic fatalities
As busy and congested as Austin streets have become, drivers have managed to keep the number of traffic fatalities from rising over the last few years. “We’re on a four-year downward trend,” Ron MacKay, Austin Police Department’s crime analysis division manager, said at the March 4 meeting of the Public Safety Commission. According to the […]
Posted inPolice
APD racial profiling statistics hold steady despite dip in traffic stops
Each year, the Austin Police Department releases a report to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement detailing the number of traffic stops and searches it makes and categorizing them by race. Recently released statistics show that while the Austin Police Department has decreased its overall searches of individuals, the majority of people who were searched following […]